Sparkling AT&T Park hosts the Nationals for a three-game series beginning tonight.

As team executives huddled up in their draft war room in Washington tonight, the Nationals themselves are 3,000 miles away, ready to open a three-game series with the Giants in San Francisco.

The challenge in the series opener (Tim Lincecum) is daunting, but the Nats have actually enjoyed success against the ace. Washington has won its last three head-to-head match-ups with Lincecum, with the right-hander actually taking the loss the last two times (including April 29 in the District).

John Lannan starts for the Nationals, and though he's pitched well against the Giants in two previous encounters (1.98 ERA over 13 2/3 innings) he's yet to earn a win. The lefty has been the victim of poor run support — he took a 2-1 loss to Jonathan Sanchez on April 30.

I won't be making the rest of this West Coast trip, but I'll have full draft coverage here tonight, so check back for that and then enjoy the late-night game in San Francisco…

Daggone it, I was just checking the thread before turning in and you guys made me go and look at Game Day. I gotta go to sleep now, so you folks have the con. Nats, you keep up that hitterish stuff. I'd like another happy game results email in the morning, please. 'kay, thanks.

If Morse is gonna hit the inside pitch out of the park, then pitchers are in deep trouble. That has been his weak spot, and if he can adjust to turn on a fastball from *Lincecum*, then the rest of the league had better watch out . . .

On a non-baseballish note – did you see that everyone is bundled up in hoodies – it's like 50 degrees out there. I thought MM could only hit when it was hot outside. Quite a switch from Arizona. Nice to see that Lannan survived the first and the nats got a hit, and on the scoreboard early. And the giants thought THEIR offense was torture last year. Although, I like it when I hear commentators talking about how highly ranked our defense is. Can we have it all please, please?

Did you just see that pick by Morse of Desmond's bounce? Can we all agree that Rizzo made the right move in letting Adam Dunn go? I don't think anyone saw MM playing first, much less playing this caliber. And spring training isn't looking like quite the aberration that some folks were thinking a month ago,eh?

I just read this in SI on the 17th pick by the Angels.17 C.J. Cron 1B Utah 6-4 225 Son of former big leaguer Chris Cron, C.J. Cron is a massive, powerfully built 1B along the lines of an Adam Dunn. Cron is a slow runner and his throwing and fielding tools all indicate a future as a DH or 1B. Perhaps the premier power hitter in the 2011 draft, the right-handed hitting Cron has enjoyed a spectacular 2011 season despite the mandated usage of the dreaded BBCOR bats. One dimensional players with tremendous power can hang on in the majors for a long time (i.e. Matt Stairs), so look for Cron to be a big league power hitter for many years.Rizzo passed on him.

Love how the anons start in immediately on LannEn even though he worked out of a tough inning. Look at his last 3 games folks, he is never going to be a #1-2-3 starter but he can be an excellent #4-5. It was weeks ago that natsjack pointed out how most negative comments were by the various anons but I don't see much here in the middle of the 5th. We can still lose the game (that is the beauty of baseball) but I really like how we have been playing lately. I saw a stat that shows since April 29 we have the best defensive stats in the majors. What an amazing turnaround. Now if we can just start to hit. On the draft, I am wondering how a 6 9" kid with heat can only have a 7-5 record? I realize this is a strength with Rizzo and our staff so I can't wait to see who else falls into our laps. We got a starting pitcher, a 5 tool centerfielder, and perhaps the best hitter in the draft. Nice start.Go Nats!!

Assuming this 3 run lead holds, what of Storen? He's been horrific lately and that save opportunity in Arizona might have taken him out for today. They can pass it off as giving him rest, but who comes in for the save? Coffey in the 8th Clipp in the 9th? Very interested to see how Riggs works the pen here.

This isn't on Coffey its on Hairston. Riggleman again managing with sentiment instead of his "amazing" baseball acumen. That first double probably doesn't happen if he puts Cora in at third instead of Hairston. It definitely doesn't happen with Zimmerman. So, what's he do again? Its all about sentiment not "smart ball". Ankiel, he of zero bat, in center. Nix out of the game and the score is tied. And you ask why Riggleman has the worst winning percentage in the modern history of baseball? There ya go. Leave Nix in and take Hairston out is the right double-switch move. Hairston is a terribly inconsistent third baseman.

Rizzo passed on him.@dj in fla,The Nats are a National League team. There IS NO DH. As we can see tonight fielding is important? Hairston lost this game because he is a terrible third baseman. Cron sounds to me like another Michael Burgess. Another Chris Marerro. Not for an NL team.

Wondering what Hairston's UZR is at third base?Again, Riggleman should have just started the 8th with H-Rod? I thought he said H-Rod was his 8th inning guy now? Sheesh the guy can never do anything without some bizarre sentimental move that ends up with the Nats losing.

We can only hope they can Upton and it doesn't cost Rizzo literally the farm … then the bench should also significantly change. Ankiel won't be coming in to replace Upton. Zim will be back so no Hairston at third. And Hairston won't be needed in the outfield … so …

Werth and Ankiel "the wonderful veterans" looking really pretty bad right now … one is starting to look really pathetic at the plate but at least has a high OBP and hopefully will be effective batting 2nd … and the other is completely and totally lost at the plate per the back of his baseball card. Its futile to put a bat in his hand.

Dang. Unhappy game results email. Did Stammen warm up sufficiently? He's been starting in Syracuse rather than coming out of the 'pen, right? On the plus side, sounds like LannEn may be getting it together.

I went to bed 4-0, Lannen in total control. Wake up to see the bullpen for the second consecutive day imploded. Once in a while things happen, but 2 straight days, it is now a concern. Giants bullpen gives up almost nothing. Our starting pitching for the most part is good enough to win, the rest of team needs to up their game to the same level.

Back out the door with 3 hours sleep. Stammen walked the backup catcher on 4 pitches. Then he got lucky that the pitcher sacrificed to get an out. The gave up the winning hit. Oh well.Was hoping that this Craig Stammen opportunity would be different. Werth, Nix, Pudge, and Ankiel all came up with opportunities all game long and did nothing. Werth looked lost at the plate.

Didn't someone point out the other day that we shouldn't get too excited that Stammen got the call to replace Slaten because he is, after all, still Craig Stammen? I really thought we got rid of this joker last year, but I guess I had him mixed up with Scott Olsen. There is a pool of pitchers that I lump together and get mixed up due to general mediocrity: Stammen, Olsen, Mock, Chico, Detwiler. Seeing those names year after year makes me feel like we're making little progress. We can beat the Giants. That's what makes the loss so frustrating.

Bright side?1. We ALMOST beat Lincecum!2. Nicely pitched game by LannEn. If he keeps this up, we can make him a no 4/5.3. Stairs got a hit (heh heh). (If Rizzo doesn't get rid of him, we can at least make the most of the situational comedy).4. GREAT DRAFT!!!!!!!5. Zimmerman's almost back. If its me at GM, I let Zimmerman recuperate at 1st base and put Morse at 3rd/OF. It was just painful to watch them intentionally walk Werth with runners on 2nd/3rd to get to easy out Ankiel. Painful.